LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


CORAL  FRANCES  SCOTT 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


BY 

CORAL  FRANCES  SCOTT 


1921 
THE  STRATFORD  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 
BOSTON.  MASSACHUSETTS 


Copyright  1921 

The  STRATFORD  CO.,  Publisher! 
Boston,  Mass. 


The  Alpine  Press,  Boston,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 


^To  my  father  and  mother 
Robert  M.  and  Sarah  Kinnear  Scott 


Contents 

Prelude 1 

Song .     2 

Indian  Summer 4 

Alone 5 

The  Elemental 7 

Personality 8 

Nature's  Mistakes 9 

Estrangement 12 

Love        . 13 

Clay        .        . 14 

September       ..  • .     * 15 

Clouds 16 

Dark  Hours    . 17 

Magic 18 

My  Brother 19 

Ghosts 20 

Parting .        .23 

Obedience       .        .        .        .        .        .        .24 

A  Wedding  Ring 25 

A  Nightmare 26 

Revolution       .  30 

Grace  .  32 


CONTENTS 

Bachelors 33 

Daisy 35 

Liberty 36 

Joy 38 

Spring    .        .        .        .      '  .        .        .        .39 


Prelude 

WHAT  is  creation  but  desire 
To  quicken  sense  to  something  higher : 
To  catch  the  ecstasy  of  the  lark, 
Or  feel  the  breath  which  fans  the  spark, 
And  kindles  fury  in  the  mob : 
To  pulsate  in  life 's  joy  or  sob : 
Then  filter  into  other  hearts, 
Thru  sounds  known  but  to  poets'  art, 
Life's  excess  of  joy  or  smart. 
What  is  creation  but  desire 
To  catch  life 's  overtones  of  fire, 
And  cause  to  vibrate  even  higher. 


['1 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Song 

Mocking-bird,  you  force  your  passion 
On  the  world  in  human  fashion: 
Joy  and  praise  are  your  delight, 
Which  you  follow  day  and  night ; 
Even  some  very  little  thing, 
Ecstasy  enough  will  bring 
To  your  heart  to  make  you  sing ; 
And  if  love  does  fill  your  breast, 
As  at  mating  time  in  spring, 
Your  notes  into  torrents  press, 
Of  sweet  liquid  sound's  surplus, 
Till  the  stream  from  out  your  throat, 
Us  to  fairy  land  does  float; 
You  pour  rapture  o'er  our  heads, 
Till  your  eyes  are  ours  instead, 
And  our  world  is  gianted; 
Then  the  trees  grow  very  tall, 
And  our  little  home,  a  hall, 
While  we  seem  to  become  small 
At  the  wonder  of  it  all; 
Then  the  flowers  take  on  faces, 
Leaves  and  ferns  become  their  laces, 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

Which  the  dew-gems  catch  in  places ; 
Then  the  perfumes  on  the  air, 
Cloy  the  very  atmosphere, 
Till  a  burdened  sense  we  bear; 

And  our  hearts  become  oppressed 
With  earth 's  glory,  in  excess, 
Till  it  seems  we  must  express 
In  some  way,  her  loveliness ; 
Thus  our  hearts  have  caught  the  spark, 
Which  does  animate  the  lark, 
And  your  self  in  light  or  dark. 


[3] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Indian  Summer 

AUTUMN'S  fair  voluptuous  form 
Glimpses  here  and  glimpses  there ; 
Now  a  crimson  cheek  a  showing, 
Now  a  strand  of  golden  hair ; 

Now  a  marble  breast  appeareth 
Veiled  in  gauze  of  amethyst, 
While  her  merry  brown  eyes  twinkle 
Thru  a  deeper  purple  mist; 

Oft  her  scarlet  lips  touch  fondly 
The  thin  veil  which  us  divide, 
But  as  we  would  seize  her  boldly, 
Into  deeper  mist  they  glide. 

Do  we  ever  catch  this  coquette 
In  full  sight,  and  hold  her  there? 
Yes,  sometimes  in  late  October, 
We  approach  her  spirit's  lair; 

See  her  stand  in  radiant  splendor 
Kissing  fingers  to  the  sun, 
Only  a  rich  haze  of  yellow 
Round  her  beauteous  shoulders  flung. 

[4] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Alone 

AGAINST  a  pearl  horizon,  a  long  low  ridge 
of  green, 
I  'd  thot  it  hills  of  even  height,  except  that  I  had 

seen 
Beneath  the  one  star  in  the  West,  a  mighty  pine 

tree  toss  his  crest, 

As  tho  his  soul  in  deep  desire,  would  meet  one 
downward  gleam  of  fire. 

Against  a  gold  horizon,  a  long  low  ridge  of  white, 
I'd  thot  a  single  mountain,  except  that  to  the 

right, 
One  lofty  peak  pierced  far  above,  and  lost  from 

mortal  sight, 
His  stately  head  first  entered  into  the  realm  of 

night. 

Against  a  red  horizon,  a  long  low  line  of  gray, 
I'd  thot  a  chain  of  cringing  slaves,  except  that 

middleway 
Adown  this  wall  of  shadows,  one  lordly  head 

flung  high, 
And  lifted  eyes  with  dauntless  gaze  against  the 

lurid  sky. 

[5] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

Sometimes   in   range   of  nature,   sometimes   in 

range  of  men, 
These  high  peaks  lift  their  regal  heads  above  the 

common  ken, 
And  pierce  a  solitude  on  high,  a  hush,  a  silence 

in  the  sky, 
Unbroken  by  some  presence  nigh. 


[6] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


The  Elemental 

WHAT  e'er  my  former  state  might  be, 
I  know  'twas  lived  within  a  wood : 
There  is  the  feel  of  empathy 
When  'lone  in  her,  a  brother  hood 
To  animal  or  bird  or  bee, 
Altho  my  form  I  do  not  see. 

I  feel  her  shade's  deep  power  of  stilling 
My  heart,  loud  knocking  at  my  side ; 
I  know  the  sense,  to  color  thrilling, 
Where  safest  rest  for  me  abides ; 
I  catch  her  breath,  to  me  revealing, 
Where  lurking  dangers  round  me  hide, 
And  hear  her  call  to  crouch  still  closer, 
Or  as  inanimate  to  bide. 

What  e'er  my  former  state  might  be, 
I  know  my  home  was  near  a  tree : 
At  night  I  feel  her  rocking  me 
While  murmuring  low  a  lullaby ; 
And  if  I  ope'  my  eyesl  see 
Her  branches  swaying  ceaselessly. 

[7] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Personality 
To  J.  D. 

I   THANK  you  for  being  you. 
I  love  to  read  your  verses  thru, 
Follow  your  thot  and  fancies  too, 
But,  more  than  that,  there  comes  to  view 
The  ego-hood,  the  thee  of  you. 
There  is  a  strength  of  manhood  there, 
A  steadfastness  of  beauty  rare, 
A  holy  breath  which  I  can  share. 
It  creeps  between  the  lines  to  me, 
Subliminal  self  you  may  not  see 
Nor  know  in  your  own  poetry. 
Yet  over  rhyme  and  rhythm  to  me, 
Yes  over  thot  and  imagery, 
Subtly  there  comes  the  you  of  thee. 


[8] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Nature's  Mistakes 

BENEATH  the  shadow  of  the  stork, 
There  lay  a  girlish  head. 
It  had  always  been  a  willful  one, 
Before  that  she  was  wed, 
And  since,  'twas  absolutely  right, 
Whatever  she  had  said. 

But  now  in  dream  she  troubled  lay, 

And  it  was  just  because 

She  could  not  have  her  own  sweet  way, 

And  force  ev'n  nature's  law, 

For  there  the  stork  stood  by  the  bed, 

Two  bundles  in  his  claw. 

The  stork,  incarnate  elements, 
Which  in  this  world  oppose 
Our  preconceived  harmonies 
Of  hair  and  eyes  and  nose, 
Stood  on  one  foot  beside  the  bed, 
And  waited  while  she  chose. 

[9] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

So  under  corners  folded  back, 
She  peeped  and  saw  two  heads, 
The  one,  a  pretty  golden  hue, 
The  other,  it  was  red. 
Not  very  complicated?    No. 
But  all  has  not  been  said. 

The  very  source  of  discontent 

Just  in  the  reason  lay, 

That  one  a  pink  bow,  one  a  blue, 

The  sign  of  sex  displayed. 

'Twas  here  the  weighty  problem  rose ; 

It  was  so  hard  to  say, 

For  the  red  head  wore  the  bow  of  blue ; 

Should  be  the  other  way. 

Then  long  she  thot  the  matter  thru  — 
A  red  haired  girl  would  never  do  — 
A  red  haired  boy  she  wouldn  't  rue  — 
But  round  a  girl  with  golden  hair, 
Her  fondest  wishes  grew, 
And  thus  she  waited,  trying  hard, 
For  this  the  stork  to  sue. 

The  stork  he  is  a  patient  bird, 

A  virtue  which  did  win 

The  place  which  in  honor  holds 

[10] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

Upon  one  leg  so  thin; 

But  wasting  time  on  hair  and  bows 

To  him  did  seem  a  sin, 

And  so  the  gold  haired  boy  is  to 

The  red  haired  girl  a  twin. 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Estrangement 

'HTMS  ours  to  stand  beside  the  bier 

I    Of  those  whom  life  have  bound  in  love, 
And  shed  o'er  them  sorrow's  soft  tears, 
Yet  feel  there  strengthens  from  above, 
Love's  cord  which  bound  them  to  us  here. 

Tis  ours  to  stand  beside  a  bier 
Often  unseen  by  other  eyes, 
And  shed  life's  bitter  bitter  tears, 
With  no  cord  reaching  to  the  skies, 
For  love's  fine  cord  has  broken  here. 

The  hearts  which  death  divide,  but  sever ; 
Life  tries,  and  knits  or  parts  forever. 


[12] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


w 


Love 

HY  do  people  call  thee  blind  ? 
Thou  dos  't  act  beyond  the  mind. 


What  of  Beauty's  presence  rare, 
Spirit  gleaming  here  and  there. 
Into  that  life  thou  canst  bear, 
Which  is  worthy  it  to  share! 

What  of  hardship  disappears ; 
For  love  gladly  hardship  bears. 

What  of  sex  seems  course  to  view, 
Sweetly  is  explained  by  you. 

Why  do  people  call  thee  blind? 
Thou  dos't  act  beyond  the  mind. 


[13] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Clay 

THE   sculptor  molds   the  clay  with  loving 
care, 

His  fingers  press  therein  an  image  rare, 
Like  child  of  Zeus,  conceived  within  his  brain, 
He  also  brings  to  birth  thru  mother's  pain, 
And  when  eternalized  in  marble  firm, 
Resolves  the  mold  of  clay  to  clay  again. 

So  love  eternal  forms  the  living  soul : 
By  love  called  here  do  human  faces  come ; 
And  when  the  sculptor,  thru  the  heart  strings, 

molds 

The  face  unto  his  image,  life  is  told, 
And  earth  resolves  itself  to  earth  again. 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


September 

SUMMER  glides  with  wistful  eyes 
Looking  o'er  her  shoulder; 
Refuge  finding  from  north  winds, 
At  each  ridge  or  boulder. 

Summer  steals  with  lowered  head, 
O'er  each  field  and  fallow; 
Trailing  her  green  nuptial  gown, 
Now  a  greenish  yellow. 

Summer  walks  with  lagging  steps, 
As  her  pale  hands  loosen 
Golden-rod,  her  last  fond  gift, 
Wth  her  Brown-eyed  Susans. 

Summer  sighs  with  heaving  breast, 
"Ah,  the  Sun  is  fickle," 
Then  her  cheeks  with  anger  flush, 
And  her  tears  drops  trickle. 


['5] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Clouds 

A  WHITE  robed  Venus  floated  up  on  high, 
Into  gray  arms  of  Zeus  who  kissed  her 
brow. 

They  mingled  into  unity  of  pearl, 
And  from  the  one  cloud  rose  a  baby  girl. 


[16] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Dark  Hours 

IN  life's  dark  hours  we  turn  away, 
And  suffer  all  alone ; 
We  cannot  bear  that  our  best  friends 
Should  hear  our  spirit's  moan; 
Some  lay  their  heads  on  earth 's  soft  breast, 
While  some  in  God's  strong  arms  find  rest. 

These  last  have  passed  their  darkest  hour : 

Dismayed  before  life's  bitter  pain, 

In  some  time  past,  they  've  turned  to  heaven, 

And  felt  the  last  cry  by  Christ  given ; 

For  even  the  Son  upon  the  tree, 

Called  to  his  Father  piteously, 

"Why  hast  Thou  forsaken  me?" 

Yes,  these  have  known  life 's  darkest  hour, 

And  passing  through  its  gloom, 

Have  found  it  ever  comes  before 

The  spirit's  fullest  bloom; 

And  now  when  troubles  on  them  press, 

In  God's  strong  arms  may  they  find  rest. 


t'7] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Magic 

JWALK  this  morning  through  a  love-kissed 
world ; 

I  'm  gowned  in  robes  of  amethyst,  flower  pearled ; 
My  feet  tread  over  courts  of  emerald 
Beneath  an  azure  canopy  unfurled ; 
Cupids  and  fays,  like  flowers,  kiss  leaves  be 
tween, 
And  bend  low  over  me  their  new  crowned  queen. 

Nor  gods  nor  fairies  cast  this  magic  here, 
A  man 's  brown  eyes  smiled  down  and  called  me 
dear. 


[18] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


My  Brother 

OF  brothers  two  I  have  but  one, 
Of  sisters  one  I  have  ah,  none. 
You  ask  how  this  strange  thing  may  be ; 
A  riddle,  yes,  but  ask  not  me ; 
I  only  know,  in  darkest  hour, 
When  in  life 's  way  bloomed  not  one  flower, 
When  faint,  and  spent,  and  all  at  sea, 
I  thought  to  turn  me  to  the  three, 
But  one  held  out  his  arms  to  me. 

This  riddle,  only  those  may  share, 
Who've  tried  life's  dizzy  paths  alone; 
Who  've  tried  till  nothing 's  left  of  them, 
Except  the  will  to  try  again, 
And  being  dazed  at  fate  so  stern, 
Have  turned  their  eyes  back  home; 
Ah,  then  if  one  hand  reach  to  you, 
One  pair  of  arms  enfold  you  true, 
Your  brother  he  would  be. 


[19] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Ghosts 

WE  look  for  ghosts  in  castles 
Or  on  Ireland 's  bogs  and  fens ; 
In  the  old  world's  mellow  atmosphere 
They  seem  like  old-time  friends. 
Yes,  even  along  the  Hudson, 
Or  peeping  through  the  blind 
Of  a  gray  Virginia  mansion, 
One  might  expect  to  find 
A  disembodied  spirit, 
Seeking  those  he'd  left  behind. 

But  on  the  plains  of  Kansas 
"Where  so  few  shadows  lie, 
Would  you  ever  think  to  see  a  ghost 
Or  to  hear  a  spirit  sigh? 

On  a  pillow  near  the  window 
Lay  my  mother's  fragile  face, 
With  dreamy  eyes  o'erlooking 
The  garden's  twilight  space, 
And  suddenly  I  saw  outside 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

A  little  cap  of  lace  above  a  knot  of  silver  curls. 

Did  they  belong  to  a  young  girl, 

And  had  the  pale  moon  turned  them  pearl? 

The  half-turned  face  beneath  the  hair, 

Did  it  belong  to  girlhood  fair, 

Or  bore  it  marks  of  woman's  care? 

I  could  not  say. 

The  light,  between  the  night  and  day, 
Would  make  it  seem  now  fair  now  gray, 
And  lost  I  felt  to  place  the  face 
When  down  she  knelt. 

Over  a  little  mound  of  clay 

Covered  with  shells,  her  hands  did  stray ; 

And  then  I  knew  her  face  was  gray. 

Then  presently  I  heard  a  sigh, 
And  saw  a  man's  form  standing  nigh 
In  long  blue  coat  and  neckcloth  high. 
He  drew  the  longing  hands  away, 
And  lifting  her,  the  two  did  stray 
Adown  the  cedar's  arching  way; 
Then  back  again  to  bend  and  sway 
Above  that  little  mound  of  clay. 

[21] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

So  now  I  know  to  western  plains, 
Departed  spirits  come  again. 
Yes,  even  to  our  garden  here, 
Does  love  recall  the  pioneer. 


[22] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Parting 

THE  ivy  curtains  ceased  to  stir,  beloved, 
The  leaves  on  the  trees  hushed,  sad ; 
When  my  eyes  denied  their  love  for  you, 
The  grass  in  gray  instead  of  green  was  clad. 

I  bore  that  hour  for  both  of  us,  beloved : 
My  eyes  told  nothing  as  I  looked  at  you ; 

I  saw  temptation  in  your  soul,  sweetheart, 
And  knew  that  I  must  hold  you  true. 

Not  that  my  strength  is  more  than  yours,  dear 
love, 

When  you  have  learned  to  bear; 
My  clinging  fingers  were  unclasped  through  life 

From  all  for  whom  I  care. 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Obedience 

HOW  anxiously  as  ages  o'er  man  rolled, 
Did  men  of  Plato's  blood, 

With  ear  against  the  wall  of  knowledge  pressed, 
Listen  for  sounds  of  God. 

How  far  they  searched,  how  high,  how  low  they 
looked 

For  that  bright  gem  called  Truth. 
How  hardly,  could  they  think  eternal  life; 

But  sought  the  fount  of  youth. 

How  pityingly  the  father  heard  the  sigh 

Of  human  kind  for  life, 
How  gracious  was  the  gift  which  he  bestowed 

To  end  the  weary  strife. 

The  key  of  knowledge  to  his  Son  he  gave, 

Obedience  was  its  name. 
Obedient  unto  death,  the  Son  became, 

Of  life,  the  living  flame. 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


A  Wedding  Ring 

LITTLE  golden  circle, 
Clasping  round  my  finger, 
Only  bind  me  to  him 

While  his  love  doth  linger. 

Never  hold  him  prisoner 
If  his  heart  love  better; 

I  could  not  support  you, 
If  you  were  his  fetter. 

Little  golden  circle, 

Ah,  so  light  today, 
My  hand  could  not  lift  you, 

If  he  felt  you  weigh. 


[25] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


A  Nightmare 

IN  palaces  innumerable, 
We  passed  thru  monarch 's  gilded  rooms ; 
Thru  castles  high  on  stony  crags, 
Thru  dungeons'  heavy  glooms,  we  walked, 
And  saw  past  centuries'  glory, 
The  ancient  royal  world  of  story. 

No  presence  of  their  occupants, 
There  left  for  us  a  spirit  trance; 
No  mighty  shadow  o  'er  us  threw 
The  magic  of  his  kingly  glance; 
Against  no  ancient  "carved  chair, 
A  crowned  head  was  seen  to  rest ; 
In  halls,  or  rooms,  or  corridors, 
No  stately  shade  of  queen  was  past ; 
These  stayed  entomed  discreetly,  lest 
They  might  disturb  the  tourist  pest; 
While  all  the  beauty  they  could  hoard, 
Was  viewed  from  over  silken  cords. 

Not  even  on  a  jousting  field, 

Was  shade  of  warring  knight  revealed, 

[26] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

And  thinking  royal  ghosts  immured, 
I  turned  me  to  Charlottenburg. 
Here  peace  reigned  over  splendors  past, 
The  sun  a  mellow  radiance  cast, 
The  half-spent  whisper  of  a  breeze, 
Rustled  a  leaf  or  stirred  the  trees, 
And  all  alone,  save  for  the  guide, 
I  stepped  thru  royal  portal  wide, 
Above  the  spot,  in  picture  fair, 
Where  Louise,  queen  of  queens,  did  dare 
To  meet  Napoleon  on  the  stair. 

Here,  too,  in  rooms  of  state,  I  found, 

Museum-like,  the  treasures  bound 

In  cabinets  or  silken  ropes, 

And  lust  of  romance  gave  up  hopes. 

Then  thru  a  softly  shaded  gloom, 

I  stepped  into  a  woman's  room. 

I  saw  no  queenly  figure  rare, 

But  girlish  presence  lingered  there ; 

It  was  as  tho  the  open  book 

Upon  the  desk  were  just  laid  down; 

The  square  of  lace  upon  the  chair, 

A  rare  perfume  still  lingered  round; 

Fair  needle  work  was  lying  by, 

And  thru  the  door,  there  caught  my  eye, 

A  silken  train  of  azure  dye, 

[27] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

I  even  thot  I  heard  a  sigh, 

But  following,  saw  no  one  nigh, 

Tho  on  the  lawn  'mongst  mighty  trees, 

I  felt  again  the  faint  spent  breeze. 

A  woodland  path  curved  from  the  door, 

Beneath  the  tender  brooding  gloom 

Of  arching  boughs,  and  led  my  feet, 

As  tho  reluctant,  to  a  tomb, 

And  mounting  steps  of  marble  white, 

I  passed  into  a  weird  light. 

It  seemed  that  here  the  bright  blue  sky, 

In  passing  thru  a  window  high, 

Had  stooped  o'er  this  still  place  to  weep, 

And  cast  blue  pallor  o'er  the  sleep 

Of  a  fair  form,  like  marble  maid, 

On  snowy  bier,  in  girlish  gown, 

The  fold  of  veil  the  chin  around, 

The  hands  on  pulseless  bosom  pressed, 

'Twas  here  I  found  the  queen  at  rest. 

On  raised  dais  cold  she  lay, 
Bathed  in  a  light  not  of  earth  seen, 
And  'twixt  me  and  the  sleeping  form, 
Stood  other  form  of  awful  mien ; 
Tho  mighty  wings  above  were  poised, 
He  rested  firm  at  dais'  edge; 

[28] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

His  regal  head  was  helmeted ; 
No  eyes  beneath  the  forehead's  ledge, 
But  eyeless  sockets  glowed  instead; 
With  threatening  sword  he  held  the  right 
Of  heaven  to  guard  the  royal  dead, 
And  lost  to  time  and  sense  I  stood : 
My  soul  suspended  at  that  sight; 
My  soul  suspended  in  that  light; 
Caught  in  death's  peace, 
Lost  in  heaven's  might. 

Then  without  sound  along  the  wall, 

A  dark  form  moved,  and  caught  in  thrall 

Of  awful  horror,  cold  I  grew, 

And  felt  death's  presence  strike  me  thru. 

I  could  not  move,  in  vain  I  tried 

To  call,  to  breathe,  as  to  my  side 

Came  the  black  form  in  soft  slow  glide; 

Ah,  I  was  near  myself  beside, 

When  to  my  mind  the  thot  applied, 

That  I  had  started  with  a  guide. 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Revolution 

PATIENT  bore  men  thru  the  ages, 
The  injustices  of  might; 
Sullen  under  lash  of  master, 
Surly  rising  with  the  light, 
Dogged  bearing  the  day's  burdens, 
Weary  back  to  bed  at  night, 
This  for  their,  and  for  their  children's 
Meagre  bite. 

Knowing  only  sweat  and  soil, 
Brain  clogged  with  the  heavy  toil, 
Patient  went  men  thru  the  ages, 
Plodding  in  life 's  weary  moil. 

But  tho  plodding  thru  the  ages, 
Mankind  scarcely  seemed  to  move 
Upward  toward  his  goal  of  freedom, 
Yet  there  was  a  stir  or  shove, 
Cumulative  despair  and  longing 
Built  a  force  that  surged  above. 

[30] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

Patient,  weary,  surly,  dogged, 
Force  incarnate  of  their  life ; 
Patient,  dogged,  surly,  weary, 
Daring  now  to  think  of  strife ; 
Patient,  weary,  dogged,  surly, 
Now  the  air  with  wrongs  is  rife ; 
Weary,  surly,  dogged,  patient, 
But  at  last  man  fights  for  life. 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Grace 

WORD  so  soft  upon  the  lips, 
Word  so  subtle  to  the  mind, 
For  your  rare  illusive  presence, 
Who  an  image  e'er  could  find? 

We  were  conscious  of  your  being, 

In  a  countenance  benign; 
We  could  hear  your  voice  thrilling 

In  a  thought's  majestic  signs; 
Could  perceive  your  form  alluring, 

In  some  noble  figure's  lines. 

Then  propitious  heaven  stood  ready, 
All  the  stars  their  favor  threw, 

And  at  last  grace  takes  on  substance, 
Is  epitomized  in  you. 


132] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Bachelors 

THE  BACHELOR  MAN 

HE  is  merely  one  who  looks  on  in  life  : 
His  interest  is  not  vital; 

A  whimsical  gleam  sometimes  plays  in  his  eyes, 
And  his  smile  is  generally  idle ; 
He  is  dubbed  by  the  men   'mong  his  friends, 

blase, 

While  the  women  call  him  a  cynic ; 
He  lives  in  bachelor  quarters  gay 
Which  would  never  do  for  a  finic ; 
And  nobody  knows  he  gives  nickels  and  dimes 
To  all  the  poor  little  children  he  finds 
When  nobody's  round;  and  to  none  it  would 

seem 
That  the  eyes  of  a  child  could  make  him  dream. 

THE  BACHELOR  MAID 

SHE  is  merely  one  who  looks  on  in  life: 
Her  interest  is  not  vital; 

A  questioning  look  sometimes  gleams  in  her 
eyes, 

[33] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

And  the  smiles  on  her  lips  are  surprised  by  a 

sigh; 

The  women  she  knows  have  dubbed  her  passe, 
The  men  have  thought  her  cold ; 
To  enter  her  tiny  apartments  gay, 
There 's  never  a  man  so  bold ; 
And  nobody  knows  she  gives  candy  and  dolls 
To  poor  little  children  where  she  calls ; 
And  none  would  believe,  to  see  her  proud  eye, 
That  a  visit  to  a  toy  shop  makes  her  cry. 


[34] 


A 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Daisy 

FTER  all's  been  sung  of  you, 
Why  do  I  sing  of  you,  too  ? 


Little  flower,  not  you  I  sing, 

But  the  shadows  which  you  bring : 

Those  who  walked  some  other  spring, 
And  looked  into  your  childish  eye 
For  knowledge,  hope,  or  sympathy. 

Why  you,  more  than  other  flowers, 
Occupy  the  poets'  hours? 

Is  it,  when  to  tell  life's  secrets, 
Is  denied  the  poet's  art, 
You,  simplest  flower,  may  filter  them 
From  your  heart  thru  his  heart? 


[35] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Liberty 

4    MERICA,  thy  children  caine  to  thee 
_1\    Drunk  with  the  dream  of  liberty. 
Liberty  for  themselves,  'tis  true 
That  was  the  first  and  narrow  view; 
But  when  their  children's  children  dreamed, 
The  word  in  brighter  letters  gleamed, 
And  freedom  for  men  of  other  kind 
Possessed  that  generation's  mind. 

America,  thy  ego-hood 
Is  written  in  thy  children's  blood. 
On  a  white  page,  each  generation 
Has  written  this,  thy  first  white  passion, 
Thy  first  concept  of  nation-hood, 
Freedom  as  the  one  great  good, 
And  signed  it  in  its  own  red  blood. 

Then  to  thy  sons  of  this  fair  time, 

The  dream  appeared  still  more  sublime, 

Freedom  for  men  of  every  clime ; 

And  in  their  blood  our  men  have  signed 

[36] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 

On  our  fair  page,  the  nation's  mind, 
Liberty  for  all  mankind. 

Then  since  the  price  has  now  been  paid 
For  this  great  good  above  all  good, 
Shalt  thou  allow  a  selfish  lust 
To  nullify  thy  nation's  trust, 
Thy  love  of  freedom  never  lost? 

Ah,  let  this  struggle  at  thy  heart, 
For  self  and  selfish  ends  depart, 
Thy  first  great  passion  will  return, 
And  if  this  thou  cans 't  not  discern, 
A  greater  price  thou  yet  shalt  pay 
For  thy  great  love  of  liberty. 


[37] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Joy 

MOST  of  life's  joys  are  forced, 
And  thus  is  lost  joy's  power. 
'Tis  given  to  joy's  connoisseurs 
To  know  the  radiant  hour. 

So  eager  are  the  most 
To  catch  her  as  she  flies, 
They  only  seize  her  shadow  fair, 
Then  think  that  dead  she  lies. 

But  some  intuit  and  wait 

The  fullness  of  the  time, 

When  joy  herself,  and  not  her  shade, 

Shall  fill  the  hour  sublime. 

To  such  rare  souls,  bright  joy 
Would  not  bright  joy  be, 
If  ought  of  dross  or  earth  corrupt, 
Their  seeing  eyes  could  see. 


[38] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Spring 

LIKE  soundless  step  of  savage  in  the  wood, 
There  comes  the  first  impulse  of  wakening 
Spring : 

No  sense  reveals  a  footfall  on  the  mold, 
Which,  yet,  a  feel  of  presence  round  me  flings. 

This  comes  before  the  snow-drop 's  fragile  grace 
Steps  forth  to  stare  old  winter  in  the  face ; 
This  comes  before  the  willow  mothers  say, 
"Put  on  fur  mittens  if  you  go  to  play." 

My  eyes  have  not  yet  seen  those  signs  of  Spring, 
But  suddenly  my  heart  commenced  to  sing, 
It  felt  the  impulse  of  the  embryo  year, 
And    shouts    before    glad    nature,    "Spring    is 
here." 


[39] 


LIFE'S  OVERTONES 


Life's  overtones  are  faint  or  clear, 
According  to  the  listener's  ear; 
Sometimes  a  heart  breaks  very  near, 
Yet,  having  ears,  we  do  not  hear. 


[40] 


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